Difficult not to side with in-form Arsenal

Everton don’t have the best record against Arsenal in recent years, indeed the Toffees haven’t beaten the Gunners in a dozen attempts.

Moreover, they’ve never won at the Emirates Stadium, last prevailing in the North London outfit’s backyard thanks to an Andrei Kanchelskis winner at Highbury back in January 1996.

Subsequently, despite the Toffees’ excellent start to the campaign, they’re a 9/2 chance at BetVictor to return with three points from their visit to the league leaders, odds-on favourites at 7/10 courtesy of William Hill.

Skybet post 14/5 against it finishing all square but given their form, it’s hard not to side with Arsene Wenger’s men, albeit in what should be a close but entertaining encounter in light of the attractive football played by both teams.

Ladbrokes price the hosts at 11/4 to shade it by a one-goal margin and as it’s a contest likely to produce three or more goals (8/11, Stan James), bet365’s 8/1 about a 2-1 victory for the Gunners isn’t without appeal.

BetVictor meanwhile go 8/11 about both teams finding the net and staying with goals there are players for both teams that will fancy their chances of registering. Arsenal’s in-form midfielder Aaron Ramsey is 9/4 at bet365 to net at any point and at the other end prolific Everton front man Romelu Lukaku is 12/5 (Skybet) to strike.

Man City’s hundred percent home record is largely responsible for their league position and Manuel Pellegrini’s charges might find the going tough on the road at Southampton. City certainly don’t appeal at a slender 4/5 via Winner.com and in fact BetVictor’s 15/4 about a Saints success is far more of an attractive proposition. Nevertheless, the high-flying visitors pose a significant threat so the best bet at St Mary’s is arguably bet365’s 9/4 posted against the hosts in the ‘Draw No Bet’ market.

Like City, Chelsea have toiled at times on their travels but they should enjoy the upper hand at a Stoke team finding the transition from the style under Tony Pulis to that deployed by new boss Mark Hughes, pretty difficult. Stan James quote the Blues at 4/6 to land a maximum haul, they’re 6/1 (Ladbrokes) to fire the only goal and 5/2 courtesy of BetVictor to record any victory by a one-goal margin at the Britannia Stadium.

At Old Trafford, betway rate Manchester United at just 4/9 to come out on top in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against Newcastle and Paddy Power price the champions at 9/5 to triumph but also concede while Liverpool are 2/7 at bet365 to send West Ham home empty-handed; the duo double up at 10/11 via William Hill.

At the Stadium of Light, Stan James go 5/2 about struggling Sunderland sharing the spoils with Tottenham and the same firm quote 23/10 for it to also be inconclusive at Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace entertain Cardiff. Putting in some solid performances on the road finally, Aston Villa stand out at 9/5 (Ladbrokes) to nick it at Fulham, Winner.com mark 5/6 against Swansea as they host Hull and West Brom, at 37/40 with BetVictor, should be too strong for Norwich.

Veteran middleweight Felix Sturm has ridden his luck against British fighters on home soil over the last few years, fortuitously taking a split decision against Matthew Macklin and drawing with Martin Murray, so Darren Barker will know he can leave nothing to chance as he faces the German for the IBF strap in Stuttgart this weekend.

The Londoner is odds-on at 20/21 with BetVictor to emerge triumphant in the Porsche Arena while Skybet rate Sturm at 11/10 and as the latter has been through the mill in several of his more recent contests, ‘Dazzling’ Darren Barker gets the nod here.

Stan James rate Barker at 11/8 to prevail via the judges’ scorecards but he’ll know how difficult it is to get a decision in Germany and might go all-out for the stoppage (11/2, bet365) if he feels there is any doubt in the latter rounds.

It might therefore be worth a speculative flutter on the visiting fighter stopping Sturm in rounds 9-12 at odds of 14/1 via Ladbrokes.

In the Heineken Cup, Northampton are a shade off odds-on at 4/6 (Paddy Power) as they entertain Leinster in Saturday evening’s televised clash and the Saints are decent value at 10/11 with bet365 to cover the visitors’ modest two-point start in the handicaps.

Tonight, Cardiff might be worth an interest at 10/11 via BetVictor when benefiting from a three-point advantage at home to Glasgow while William Hill price Leicester at 10/11 to beat Montpellier by more than a dozen on Sunday afternoon.

Bet of the week: Southampton to beat Man City ‘Draw No Bet’ – 9/4 (bet365)

Odds supplied by www.betrescue.com

Offer of the week: Open an account with Paddy Power via betrescue and claim £50 in free bets. See betrescue.com/freebets for details